Bad Beast: Seattle is way smarter than this

Though our city has been ranked one of the nation’s smartest many times over the past decade, the popular online news site is less impressed.

Seattle ranked a disappointing seventh in the site’s inaugural list of America’s Smartest Cities, which factored in not only education and literacy — which Seattle dominates — but also university presence, turnout in the last election and nonfiction book sales.

“I lived in Seattle for about 3 years and I can tell you – I’m shocked Seattle isn’t in the top 3. Very shocked,” wrote a Daily Beast commenter. “Denver beat out Seattle??? Something’s wrong with the criteria.”

It’s hard not to suspect some brainless methodology — considering the facts.

Seattle is the most literate city in the country, according to a 2008 Central Connecticut University study. We have the highest proportion of college educated residents anywhere, as of 2006. On top of that, Seattle has more bookstores per capita than any other city, and 80 percent of residents hold public library cards.